npslands

On August 25, 1916 President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Park Service Organic Act passed by Congress on Augast 15, 1916, creating the National Park Service; a bureau of the Department of the Interior. The first Parks featured unique western landscapes until an executive order in 1933 transfered 63 sites from the Forest Service and the War Department to the National Park Service. This act extended the Park Service to include sites with historical and cultural significance. The establishment of Yellowstone National Park stimulated world wide interest in saving unique pieces of vanishing landscapes. Since Yellowstone was signed into law in 1872, 1200 national parks have been established in 100 nations.
Some of the NPS units have world wild signifcance and have earned the prestieges title of World Heritage Site. At present, there are 15 World Heritage Sites that are also units of the National Park Service. They are listed below with the years in which they were established as heritage sites.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park (1995)
Preserves more than 80 caves in the Guadalupe Mountains of southern New Mexico, including the nation's deepest limestone cave.

Everglades National Park (1979)
The largest subtropical wilderness in the continental U.S. includes extensive fresh- and saltwater areas, Everglades prairies, and mangrove forests.

Grand Canyon National Park (1979)
Focusing on the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River, park illustrates one of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park (1983)
Encompassing portions of NC and TN, park features a diversified plant and animal life, and preserves structures representing southern Appalachian mountain culture.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (1987)
International Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site features active volcanism and rare vegetation. Elevations range from sea level to 13,677 feet.

Independence National Historical Park (1979)
Located in central Philadelphia, park includes structures and sites associated with the American Revolution and the founding of the United States.

Mammoth Cave National Park (1981)
The longest recorded cave system in the world includes more than 336 miles explored and mapped.

Mesa Verde National Park (1978)
The first cultural park set aside by NPS features the best preserved and most notable pre-Columbian cliff dwellings and other works of early Americans.

Olympic National Park (1981)
Pristine wilderness park includes glacier capped mountains, over 60 miles of scenic ocean shore, and stands of old-growth and temperate rain forest.

Pueblo de Taos (1992)
One of the best preserved group of habitations and ceremonial centers which are representative of a culture largely derived from the traditions of the pre-historic Anasazi Indian tribes.

Redwood National Park (1980)
Features old growth coastal redwood forests and 40 miles of scenic Pacific coastline.

Yellowstone National Park (1978)
Yellowstone Net Company site includes multimedia tour, park newspaper and newsletter, discussion forums, and more.

Yosemite National Park (1984)
Established in 1890, this Sierra Nevada park features alpine wilderness, groves of Giant Sequoias, and the glacially-carved Yosemite Valley.

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